Synchronous follower drive for spooler traverses



July 29, 1952 E BRQDEN 2,605,053

- SYNCHRONOUS FOLLOWER DRIVE FOR SPOOL-ER TRAVERSES 'Filed Feb. 16', 1950 f a Shets-Sheet 1 Zhmentox Edwin H. Braden Git negs J y 1952 E. BRODEN 2,605,053

SYNCHRONOUS FOLLOWER DRIVE FOR SPOOLER TRAVERSES Filed Feb. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7' 4 511 (Itt megs July 29, 1952 E. N. BRODEN 2,605,053

SYNCHRONOUS FOLLOWER DRIVE FOR SPOOLER TRAYERSES Filed Feb. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ------1 .9 {Omega Patented July 29, 1952 SYNCHRONOUS FOLLOWER DRIVE FOR SPOOLER TRAVERSES Edwin N. Broden, Assonet, Mass., assignor to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 16, 1950, Serial No. 144,527

13 Claims. 1

In the winding of filamentary material as it emerges from a processing apparatus, the linear speed of the material is substantially constant, as determined by the rate of the processing ,machinery. As the material is wound on spools, this constant linear speed requires a decreasing angular'velocity of the spool'as the radius of the wound portion increases. Thus, if the spool itself is directly driven to take up the winding, it becomes necessary to vary the speed of the power drive in inverse relation to the radius of the winding on the spool.

According to the present invention, the power drive for windup is communicated directly to the outer surface of the wound material .by a rotating drum so that the said outer surface has'a constantllinear speed equal tothat of the outer surface of the drum. The traverse mechanism or level winder is powered from the main drive to the drums but the rate thereofis modified by a take-01f device whichrefiects the angular speed of the spool.

Itis therefore an object of theinvention to provide a spool windup device having a powered drive of J constant angular velocity, communicating, at alltimes. a constant linear speedto the outer layer of windings on the spool. Afurther object is to provide a'device of this character inwhich the speed of the traverse mechanism is controlled in relation to the angular velocity of the spool. In still greater particular,- it is an object to provide'a device according 'to both the foregoing objects in which the traverse mechanism has a powered drive which is modified in accordance with the angular velocity'of the-spool. p

Themachine shown and described hereinis particularly adapted for winding installations :in which there are avast .number of spools operated from a singlesource of power, in which it is essential that all of the spools be driven uniformly, and in which it is also essential that the traversingor level-wind mechanism be driven at the correctrate of speed tolay the-filaments evenly over the spool. Itis also an object of theinvem tion to adapt amachine of this type to the winding-of threads, filaments, or-ribbonsof different widths which" will require differing rates of traverse for the level-wind mechanism.

In carrying out'theobjects of the invention, the increase in diameter of the spools is compensatedfor by driving the spools from the outer surface of the material. vIt is, however, not practical to drive the --traversing.mechanism directly from the spools as it is notpossible to "transmit invention shown, this is accomplished through a friction clutch as will be described, but equivalent means may be substituted.

This invention is described in its best known and preferred'form, but it is not necessary that the details as set forth be followed, it being possi ble to incorporatethe invention in other forms and embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

In the' drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one end of" the windup machine.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1, as viewed from the left thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of' a portion of Fig. 3.

The main support for the machinery comprises end frames, one of which is shown, having slanted corner legs I,-2, cross pieces 3, 4, connected'by upper and lower pairs of horizontal beams 6, 1.

Angles 8, supported on upper cross members 4, support four of six longitudinally extending channels '9 of a'framework having end plates II, on which framework are mounted the'spooler,

the traverse, and traverse'control mechanism. A

table l2, resting on angle bar'3 and on a pair of legs l3, l4, extends from one end of the frame and serves as a support for the traverse'cam and change-gear mechanism'shown generally 'at I6.

40 In the form shown herein, the machine is designed to contain four rows of spools, the spools in a row being of a desired number."

Friction-drive drums 11, equal to the number of spools, are located in spaced relation along shafts l8, I9, 20, 2|, journaled in end plates H,

the drums being keyed to the respective shafts for rotation therewith.

A pair of longitudinal plates 22, extending from one end of the machine to the other, are-supported in vertical position on end plates ll and each carries a series of laterally projecting U- shaped, sheet metal plates 23 arranged in pairs. The outer edges of the plates 23 are grooved to 1 form channels 24 (Fig. 4). These'channels re 5 ceive the'spindles of windup spools 25 and posi- 30, each having bolted thereto a plate 31 carry} The plates have ing the upper thread guide 32. depending legs 33 in the lower end of each of which is set a second thread guide 34 and a guide roller 35, around which the thread T passes on its way to the spool. Blocks 3% are fixed in adjusted position on rods 26, as by set screws 36. and as rods 26 reciprocate in'their' bearings, by means to be presently described, the thread T is distributed back and forth along the length of the spools on either side of a rod 26.

The drums II, which frictionally drive the spools 25, are power driven by a motor 38 through a sprocket chain 39. As best seen in Fig. 2, this drive is communicated to a double sprocket 19 keyed to shaft ii. A chain M on another part of sprocket 49 engages a sprocket 52 on. shaft I9 todrive it in the same'directionas shaft'2I, and chain 4| also passes under a double sprocket d3 on shaft 29 to drive it oppositely to shafts 2i and I9. Sprocket wheel 53 on shaft 29 also connects, through a chain 4 3 with a sprocket wheel 46 on shaft I8 to drive it in the same direction as shaft 20. Thus, the alternate shafts have opposite directions of rotation and all the shafts and their drums H are, rotated at the same speed.

Thetraverse mechanism cam, which drives the level-wind mechanism, is shown at M in Fig. 1. This cam is keyed to a shaft 68, journaled in standards 49, 50 carried on table I2. A cam follower I is carried on an arm 52 secured to a vertical rock shaft rotatable in upper and lower journal housings 5 3,56, bolted to extensions on the machine framework. An upper arm 51, extending from rock shaft 53 carries an upright 58, from which a tie rod 59 connects with an upright bar GI carrying a cross bar 62 of channel form, to which the ends of traverse rods are bolted. As cam i; rotates, shaft 53 is rocked and arm 5'! thereof carries tie rod 59 and framework ISI, (32 in reciprocating motion to slide the rods 26 back and forth in their bearings and thus reciprocate the thread guides along the spools. A pair of crossed brace members 63 give lateral supportagainst bending to the rods 26.

Power to drive the cam ll is derived from the motor 38 through one of the spool rotating shafts. In the drawings this is the shaft I9. A sprocket chain 64 engages a sprocket wheel 95 on shaft 29 and a sprocket wheel 83 rotatable on a shaft 67 journaled in uprights 68', I59 on table I2. Driving torque is delivered to the shaft 6'! through a slip clutch II, adjustable by a spring I2 and nut 73, to a sprocket wheel I l, and from thence to a set of gears IS, 7?, I8 of varying size through a sprocket chain '59 and a sprocket wheel 89, which latter is mounted on the same shaft SI which mounts the gears. A roller 82, mounted to swing aboutshaft 67, rests upon the chain E9 to take up the slack. Shaft Si is 'journaled in a framework having three sides 83, 95, 85. Sides 83 and 84 are pivoted on the center line of shaft $7 and the gear system is movable upward about the axis 91 by means of a handle extension 86 on side 83. This permits movement of a driven gear 8? along a keyway 89 of shaft t9 and selective enback and forth across the several spools. This is to permit the machine to operate on varying widths of material and still lay the material evenly over the spool. The machine is adapted to wind any widths of material from small gauge threads to narrow tape, and this mechanism permits the machineto be adjusted to its varying requirements.

The carrying'power of slip clutch II is sufficient to activate the entire traverse mechanism at the commencement of winding when the speed of the spools is at a maximum. By the arrangement now to be described, the clutch is caused to slip by means of an auxiliary drive, which is responsive to the reduction in speed of the spools as the diameter of the material on the spools increases, to subtract from the speed input to the traverse cam. 3

Pairs of follower wheels '93, 94 and 96, 91,10- cated at the left hand end of the machine as shown in Fig. 3, are keyed on shafts 98, 99, respectively, journaled in the outer ends of pairs of arms IDI, I92 and I03, Hi l, rotatably mounted on shafts I95, I98 journaled in arms I91, I98rising from brackets H8 secured to the uppe'r'edges of the plates 22. v I

The rollers 93-91 rest in theirlowered position on the flanges III of the windup spools located beneath them. To insure against slippage between the rollers and the spool flanges, the rollers are forced into engagement with the flange by a toggle mechanism comprising arms I12, H3, keyed on shafts I05, I09, and rods H4, H6, articulated to arms H2, II3,.as at H1, H8, and slidable through openings H9, i'ZI in plates 22 against the pressure of springs I 22, I23 surrounding the rods H4, H6 and abutting adjust- 0 able collars I24, I26 on the rods.' This linkage serves a double purpose: When either pivot, such as III, is in its uppermost position, the follower wheels 93, 94 are urged downward Icy-spring I22 against flanges III of the spools; but when the pivot Ill passes downwardly of dead center position, or past alignment of rods II2, II 4, the spring I22 serves to urge friction wheels 93, 94 upwardly and hold them in such raised position to facilitate removal and replacement of. the spools.'

The rotation of follower wheels 95, 91 is imparted through a sprocket wheel I21, keyed on an extension of shaft 99, and a chain I28 to a pair of coaxial sprocket wheels I 29, I39, attached together and freely rotatable on an extension of shaft I06. Similarly, the rotation of the opposite pair of friction wheels 93, 94 is communicated bya keyed sprocket wheel I3I and chain I32 to a connected pair of sprocket wheels I33, I34 rotatable on anextension of shaft I05. A sprocket chain I36passesover wheel I30 around wheel I34, around an idler sprocket wheel I 3'! journaled in a plate I38 secured to the framework, and around a sprocket wheel I39 which is keyed to the shaft 67. The interconnection between the several follower rolls will tend to correct any variations in spool travel and cause all of the spools to rotate at the same speed. The connection from these several follower rolls to the sprocket I39 determines the speed at which the shaft 61 may rotate, the power for driving theshaftihowever; being delivered through the slipping clutch- 1 l.

The sprockets are soarrangedithatthe drive to.-.the traverse cam. 4'loriginatingratrchain 64 impartsto shaft'fi'l a direction of rotation similar'to that applied to. the. shaft 61 'by chains 13$, refiecting-thedrive-of. the follower wheels .93, 94. 96, 91. Thedrive fromthe ,followenwheels to the.- cam is. correctly designedfor'traverse in proper relation tothe rotation of: the spools. However, asthe threads. build upon the spools, theeconstant'linear velocity, due to the surface drive onthe wound thread, entailsa steady re: duction in the angular velocity of the spools due to the increasing radius. Thus, although there isa constant power driveto ;the cam from chain 64, the chain system from the follower wheels is;the determining factor insettingthe angular speed of the camand, thefriction on the-;follower -=wheels being greater-than that in the slip clutch, the angular-velocity of the cam is gradually reduced while shaft 61 continues to, rotate at constant angular velocity, the difference-in thetwo velocities being possible due to slippage in the clutch.

v Thus, the apparatus fulfills two vitally important conditions: Constancy of linear feed of material and a constant relation between traverse speed and angular velocity of the spool.

While a certain preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereby since changes in the size, shape and arrangement, for instance, of the various parts may be made without, however, departing from thespirit or scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. A windupapparatus comprising a frame having means to receive the spindle of a windup spool having end flanges. a power-driven drum; mounted so as to fit between the flanges of a mounted spool to drive the spool by-contact withthe-outer surface of material being Wound thereon and the spool being adapted to recede from the drum as the diameter of its wound portion increases, a roller adapted to rest on a flange of a mounted spool to be driven in rotation thereby, traverse means for distributing the material along the length of the spool during winding, said traverse means having a power drive with rotating parts having a slip connection, and means communicating the rotation of said roller means to said rotating parts in a direction similar to that occasioned by said power drive.

2. A windup apparatus comprising mounting means for a spool to be wound, drive means for the spool adapted to communicate rotation thereto by contact with the outer surface of the material being wound on the spool, traverse means to distribute material being wound on the spool along the length thereof, means to communicate drive from the said drive means to the traverse means, said latter means including a slip connection, roller means adapted to engage a circumference of fixed radius on the spool to be driven thereby, and means communicating a drive from said roller means to said traverse means whereby the linear speed of the traverse means is slowed in proportion to the reduction of angular velocity of the spool consequent upon the increasing diameter of the wound material.

3. A device as in claim 2, said roller means being mounted for swinging motion to and from the spool.

.4. Axdevice asin claim-2, amounting for said roller means adapted for: swinging motion to and from the spool,: andv a spring-urged toggle meanseurging said latter. mounting to working position or idle position, selectively, oneither side of dead center of the-toggle. means.

5; A windu-p apparatus comprising mounting means for a spool tobe wound, drive means for thespool adapted to communicate rotation thereto by contact with the-outer surface of material being wound .on the spool, said mountingmeans comprising guides in which'the spool'is'free. to move away from said drive means as the spool diameter increases, traverse means having a thread guide, acam' for reciprocatingthe traversev means, rotating means to drive the cam to distribute materialbeing wound'onv the spool along the. length thereof, drive -means:' for said rotating means, including a slip connection, and drive. means acting: conjointly with the second mentioned drive meansto'provide an-additional drive for the cam and responsive to reduction in angular velocity of the spool being Wound, consequent upon its-increasing diameter, to 1m part a retarding force to said-latter drivemeans through said slip connection whereby a constant relation between angular velocity of the spool and rate of travel of said traVerseJ means. is maintained.

6. A windup apparatus comprising mounting means for a spool to be wound, drive'means for the spool adapted to communicaterotation thereto by contact with the outer surfacev of material beingwound on the spool, traverse means, a-cam to reciprocate thetraverse means=to distribute material being woundron the spool along the length thereof, drive means for said cam, including-a slip. connection, and drive means acting conjointly with the second-mentioned drive means to provideanadditional drive for-the cam and responsive to reduction inangular velocity of the spool being wound; consequent upon its increasingdiameter, to impart'a retarding force to said latter drive means through said slip connection whereby a constant relation between angular velocity of the spool and rate of travel of said traverse means is maintained.

'7. A windup apparatus comprising mounting means for a spool to be wound, drive means for the spool adapted to communicate rotation thereto by contact with the outer surface of material being wound on the spool, traverse means, a cam to reciprocate the traverse means to distribute material being wound on the spool along the length thereof, constant speed drive means for said cam, and drive means acting conjointly with the second-mentioned drive means to provide an additional drive for the cam and responsive to reduction in angular velocity of the spool being wound, consequent upon its increasing diameter, to retard the speed of said cam whereby a constant relation between angular velocity of the spool and rate of travel of said traverse means is maintained.

8. A windup apparatus comprising mounting means for a spool to be wound, drive means for the spool adapted to communicate rotation thereto by contact with the outer surface of material being wound on the spool, traverse means to distribute material being wound on the spool along the length thereof, contant speed drive means for said traverse means, and drive means acting conjointly with the second-mentioned drive means to provide an additional drive for the cam and responsive to reduction in angular velocity of the spool being wound to retard the rotational speed of said cam in proportion to reduction in rotational speed of said spools whereby a constant relation between angular velocity of the spool and rate of travel of said traverse means is maintained.

9. A windup apparatus comprising mounting means for a spool to be wound, drive means for the spool adapted to communicate rotation thereto by contact with the outer surface of material being wound on the spool, traverse means, a cam, means to rotate the cam from the spool driving means and connections from the cam to the traverse means to distribute material being wound on the spool along the length thereof, a slip connection in said cam rotating means, a roller adapted to engage a circumference of fixed radius on the spool, and means to communicatemotion from said roller to said cam whereby reduction in speed of the spool results in reduction in speed of said cam.

10. A windup apparatus comprising mounting means for a spool to be wound, a first drive means adapted to contact the outer surface of material being wound on the spool to rotate the spool, traverse means to distribute the material being wound on the spool along the length thereof, a second drive means powered by rotation of said spool and arranged to operate said traverse means, and a third drive means of constant speed also operating said traverse means, said second drive means controlling the rate of operation of said traverse means.

11. A windup apparatus comprising mounting means for a spool to be wound, a first drive means adapted to contact the outer surface of material being wound on the spool to rotate the spool, traverse means to distribute the material being wound on the spool along the length thereof, a second drive means powered by rotation of said spool and arranged to operate said traverse means, and a third drive means of constant speed also operating said traverse means, and means governing the rate of operation of said traverse means in accordance with the rate of 1 speed of said second drive means. i

12. Winding mechanism for a spool comprising a power operated shaft, a drum on said shaft, means for supporting the spool so that it rests upon the drum by its outer periphery, a reciprocable traversing mechanism movable along the shaft, a cam to reciprocate said traversing mechanism, means to actuate the cam, said last named means including a slipping connection from the power operated shaft, and a regulating device for controlling the speed'of the cam in-time'd relation to the speed of rotation of the spool, said regulating device comprising a roller main tained in contact with the spool and driving connections from the roller to the cam.

13. Winding mechanism for a spool comprising a power operated shaft, a drum on said shaft, means for supporting the spool so that it rests upon the drum by its outer periphery, a reciprocable traversingmechanism movable along the shaft, a cam to reciprocate said traversing mechanism, means to actuate the cam, said last named means including a slipping connection from the power operated shaft, and aregulatingdevice for controlling the speed of the cam in timed relation to the speed of rotation of the spool, said regulating device being driven by the spool and having a driving connection with the cam.

EDWIN N. BRODEN.

' REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the his of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

